AEL, ETHA, Kaimakliou all win in Cyprus basketball championship

2010-02-19

PROTEAS EKA AEL downed Keravnos Strovolos at the Nikos Solomonides Arena in Limassol, while Intercollege/ETHA and Frederick Achilleas Kaimakliou recorded victories over Nissan Omonia and BMC AEK respectively in Nicosia to conclude Round 16 of the national basketball championship.

National cup holders AEL used a punishing final quarter to overcome Keravnos 72-57 with Quincy Taylor leading the way with 18 points.

The visitors from Nicosia held a seven-point lead at half time, but the hosts came back strong after the interval to take a one-point lead into the fourth period in which they scored 21 points, while keeping their opponents at bay to claim a well deserved victory and improve their record to 12-2.

Hypothyroidism: a problem that can creep up on you

2010-02-19

 

THE THYROID is a bow-tie shaped gland that sits in the lower part of the neck in front of the wind-pipe. Its function is to regulate the body’s metabolic rate. If thyroid function deteriorates it can give rise to a range of symptoms including fatigue, weight gain, low libido, sensitivity to cold, cold hands and feet, and fluid retention. The diagnosis of low thyroid function is usually made on the result of a blood test where the level of certain hormones in the bloodstream is measured. The hormones it produces are largely responsible for our metabolism, the process by which the body digests food and turns it into energy.

Eurocypria back from the brink

2010-02-19

AILING charter airline Eurocypria was given a new lease of life yesterday after parliament gave the nod to a €35 million government bailout.

The funds were passed by a comfortable majority, with AKEL, DIKO and EDEK voting in favour.

A last-minute amendment to the government bill – inserted by the European Party – for a €10 million cash boost instead was beaten back during debate at the plenum. The proposal for the smaller amount was supported by DISY.

The airline had been warning the cash boost was a make-or-break deal, since Eurocypria, already in the red, needs to quickly repay loans amounting to some €28 million.

Electricity going up another 1.9 per cent

2010-02-19

ELECTRICITY PRICES are expected to rise by a further 1.9 per cent as part of the Electricity Authority’s efforts to cover the gap left by the imposition of “pollution credits”.

The latest hike comes on top of the 1.5 per cent increase imposed at the beginning of the year, as the first part of a three-stage 4.5 per cent increase which will see the same 1.5 per cent increases in 2011 and 2012.

This is the first increase to the base rate since 1983 although bills have climbed during this time through the fuel-cost adjustment, which adjusts automatically depending on the fluctuation of fuel prices.

Garoyian has formed ‘opinion’ on coalition future but remains tight lipped

2010-02-19

TALKS between President Demetris Christofias and DIKO leader Marios Garoyian over the future of the government coalition yesterday appeared to be going well.

“I hope and I anticipate that our discussions will come to fruition,” Christofias told newsmen after an almost two-hour meeting at the Presidential Palace, the second this week.

A third meeting – which would have turned the contacts into a running saga along the lines of the Cyprus talks – was ruled out.

Flanked by his party spokesman, Garoyian described yesterday’s discussion as “very creative, sincere and substantive.

“Everything was put on the table…we had a sincere dialogue,” said Garoyian.

€1.5 million to refurbish VIP lounge at old airport

2010-02-19

A €1.5 MILLION plan to refurbish the VIP lounge at the old Larnaca airport, because the new one is not adequate for official state visits, is expected to get underway next week.

On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers will discuss the proposal by the Communication and Works Ministry, which includes media facilities and reception areas for official state visits, such as the Pope’s forthcoming trip, and wealthy private individuals.

Dust levels three times as bad yesterday

2010-02-19

THE DUST levels in the atmosphere increased yesterday with concentrations as high as 213 ?g/m³ being recorded in Limassol.

The safety guideline issued by the government stands at 50?g/m³.  In Nicosia levels of 136?g/m³ were recorded, in Paphos 130?g/m³ and in Larnaca 90?g/m³.

The high levels of dust currently being experienced across Cyprus are due to a cyclonic system in the Atlas mountain range of Algeria and Morocco which raised dust into the higher atmosphere from where it was blown across to Cyprus by the prevailing south-westerly wind.  The atmosphere is forecast to clear up on Sunday when light rains will occur.

Greek Americans wants US ambassador in Turkey recalled

2010-02-19

THE AMERICAN Hellenic Institute (AHI) has asked Washington to recall its ambassador to Turkey after he described Turkey as a country that “does not invade its neighbours”, and as being closer to the EU than Cyprus,

AHI said that in a three-part interview with Turkey’s Sabah newspaper, this month US ambassador to James Jeffrey answered a large array of questions regarding Turkey’s role in the region.

“Ambassador Jeffrey’s responses for the public record were alarming and bring into question the Obama Administration’s policy as it specifically relates to Cyprus,” said AHI, calling on President Barack Obama to immediately recall the ambassador.

‘No one cares’ about dog beaches Greens complain

2010-02-19

A LAW passed in 2003 mandating that each coastal municipality must designate beaches on which pet dogs are permitted has been completely ignored, claims Green Party President George Perdikis.

In the intervening years the law has been implemented by just one municipality in Ayia Napa, which did not even appoint a dog-friendly beach until mid-2008.

“After five years of zero implementation of the law, dozens of letters and articles written in newspapers and the bad experience of the killing of a [dog owner] on the beach in Latsi two years ago, nobody cares,” said Perdikis.

President: public deficit will be under control in three years

2010-02-19

CYPRUS can, in three years, bring its public deficit under three per cent and comparisons with Greece are unfortunate, President Demetris Christofias said yesterday.

“We are not in the same position as Greece. I wish Greece was in our position,” the president said during the Cyprus Exports Award ceremony in Nicosia.

He said it was not right to compare the Cypriot economy and its condition with Greece’s economy.

“The only thing we achieve is to create more anxiety to the business world and the common folk,” Christofias said.

“We can, in two to three years, cut the public deficit to under three per cent if we take the right measures. I wish that for Greece, but such comparisons are unfortunate.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.